We really want a videographer to capture some of the most special parts of our day (ceremony, speeches, etc), but now that we’re a few months into planning and all of the costs are adding up, this one feels overwhelming. Does anyone have recommendations for videographers in the city that felt more affordable? TIA!
My mom had asked that I plan a dress shopping day in the northwest suburbs (Arlington Heights area) and I am looking for recommendations! I think for budget we are looking to stay around or below $5k.
I also plan to look in the city later, so would love any city recommendations too! Just overwhelmed by all of the options when looking to make appointments. Also, when shopping, how many appointments would you do in one day/how far spaced apart? TIA :)
Looking at venues, and outdoor space is a big must for us. Liked Artifact Events, but LOVED Revel Motor Row. Curious if anyone has any feedback or tips based on their experience with Revel? The few reviews I can find look positive, but I would love to hear more from people, since there aren’t many reviews out there!
We’ve also seen Chicago History Museum, Lacuna Events, and we were going to tour Chicago Illuminating until I saw a handful of negative reviews. Our wedding will be in late August 2027, so our options are relatively limited at this point. We are leaning heavily towards booking Revel, but if there’s anything similar we should check out, let me know!
(Rockwell on the River, Cafe Brauer, Bridgeport Art Center, Galleria Marchetti are all booked)
Thanks in advance!
We have a date on hold at Artifact Events, but I have a few concerns. Our budget is pretty flexible, but I don’t want to waste any money if we don’t have to. Other venues we’re considering right now: Rockwell on the River, Chicago Illuminating Company, and Lacuna Events.
Ideally, we’d like to do a full buyout so we can use the outdoor space, and to avoid having another wedding at the same time. The full buyout for the venue is $20k (higher than our other options, but think it might even out more based on what is included in the venue fee), AND an $18k minimum on bar spend. It’s been difficult for me to compare to other venues because every venue comes with different things included, and most come with a per person quote for food AND alcohol.
With 200-250 guests and some common add ons or upgrades, I think we would hit the $18k minimum bar spend for the full buyout at AE regardless, but seeing a high quote from them for venue & alcohol only was pretty jarring. Is that competitive pricing for a wedding of similar size in the city? It’s been difficult to
compare considering the other venues we’re looking at have given us quotes just for the space, or for the space, food, and bev.
Any advice from experience at AE or how to compare pricing between venues that break everything down differently? Any similar venues we should consider or questions to ask during this process? We’ve just started touring but trying to lock down a date for next August ASAP.
Thank you!
After 5 years of dating, my fiancé and I just got engaged (yay!), and we are thinking about who will be in our bridal party.
My friend, we’ll call her Kayla, briefly dated my fiancé’s best friend, we’ll call him Kevin, in 2022, and he broke up with her about three years ago. Kayla and I have been friends since elementary school, and we’re still good friends, but Kevin is going to be my fiancé’s best man (Kayla met Kevin through my fiancé and I). Since they broke up, Kayla has struggled to move on, and over the years, has made some comments to me that have made me really uncomfortable, and has made me question her intentions in our friendship.
A year and a half before we even got engaged (and a year and a half after they broke up), Kayla asked me if I’d let her walk down the aisle with Kevin at my wedding. And just a few days ago, she told me that she doesn’t think she will ever get married, unless she marries him.
Over the three years since they broke up, we’ve had multiple conversations about how she hasn’t been able to move on, I’ve told her how I’ve felt uncomfortable in the middle at times, and I’ve recommended that she speak to a professional multiple times if she is still feeling so heartbroken. Kevin has been dating a new girl for over a year now, and my fiancé and I really like them as a couple. Kevin is also a bit worried about how Kayla might act around his current girlfriend at any of our events.
I know Kayla is probably expecting to be a bridesmaid because we’ve been friends for so long, and if she’d never dated Kevin, I would probably be asking her to be one. I really don’t want to hurt her feelings or our friendship, but I am exhausted after years of worrying about her any time she will be in the same room as him, and I really don’t want to worry about this on my wedding day. What should I do?
Can’t believe it’s finally my day to post!! My fiancé proposed yesterday with this beautiful emerald cut ring we designed earlier this year. We are so happy, and I’m thrilled to finally be able to wear it!😂
Long time lurker, first time poster! My fiancé (eek!) proposed yesterday with this 4.64 ct emerald cut, with a custom curve shaped wrap around hidden halo we designed. We are so happy🥰
My fiancé and I are starting to look at venues in the city, and don’t even know where to start with planning. We are lucky to have a pretty flexible budget, and are wondering if we should look into a wedding planner?
We aren’t even sure what questions we should ask the venues we visit, but I know many come with or have the option to add a day of/week of coordinator. What would you recommend? Any local small businesses/wedding planners you’ve had positive experiences with?
Thank you!